Box-making machine



A. J. EVERS.

BOX MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATmN FILED sEELzo, 1920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

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A. J. EVERS.

BOX MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. zo. 1920.

Patented Aug. 2,1921.

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mvnfj f A. J. EVERS. BOX MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2o, 1920.

Patented Ag. 2, 1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A. J. EVERS.

BOX MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED sPT.20. 1920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

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A. 1. Ev-Eas. BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICAION FILED SEPT-20, 1920. 1,385,988. y

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6- ilm'" 11"?" A. J. EVERS.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLxcATloN mw SEPT. zo, 1920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.Y

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A. J. EVERS.

Box MAKlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20| 1920.

Patenteamlg. 2,1921;

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

ARTHUR J. EVERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOX-MAKING- MACHINE.

Lessines.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Application led September 20, 1920. Serial No. 411,689.

To all whom t may conce-m.'

Be it lrnown that l, ARTHUR J. Evans, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county7 of Cool; and State oi Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BOX-Making Machines, oi? which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to iinprovcnicnts in machines for automatically producing pasteboard and similar boxes or containers, and preferably, but not necessarily exclusively, to those made from a single pasteboard blank and having necks integral with the body portions of the boxes over which 'the covers are adapted to tit.

@ne ot the leading aims of the present invention is the provision or production of a relatively simple machine oi this kind which produces such boxes economically in rapid succession, the blanks being fed automatically and supplied with proper adhesive. Salient features of the machine are simplicity in structure, effectiveness in operation, speed or" operation, unlikelihood of becoming injured or damaged in service, and the quality of the product which is manu: factures.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a full and complete understanding of the invention and its various benefits and advantages, and the manner of attainment of the above-speciiied objects, l have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specitication and throughout the several views of which like reference characters refer to the same parts.

in these drawings- Figure l is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a iront elevation of the same;

F ig. 3 is an end elevation of the appliance;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

5 is a vertical section at right-angles to the section of Fig. 4 on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. G is a horizontal section on an enlarge scale on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 7-7 of Fig. 4 through theV enpansible and lcontractible rectangular form and its operating mechanism g 8 is a horizontal section illustrating the means for supporting and guiding the sections of the contractible and enpansible form;

Fig. 9 illustrates in perspective one of the corner members associated with the sectional form;

Fig. 10 shows one of the form-section supports in perspective;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section on line 11-11 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 12 and 13 are details of the form and its spreading mechanism;

Fig. 14 shows one of the form elements in perspective Fig. 15 is a face View of one of the pasteboard blanks; and

Fig. 16 shows a fragment of one of the two-pronged elements which fold the ears or tabs around the corners of the form.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the machine includes a table (Fig. l) forming the top part of a supporting frame-work 31 having, as is usual, a plurality of legs resting on the door. Bolted to the top of this table are two front standards 32, 32, and alined rear standards 33, 33 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6). A plate or casting 35, of the peculiar shape shown in Fig. 1, is mounted on the tops of the two front posts or standards 32, 32 and is held in position thereon by securing screws or bolts 34, 34.

Plate 35, as is shown perhaps most clearly in Fig. 5, has a central aperture 36 above which a U-shaped guide casting 37 -is positioned, such element having a base 38 fastened to the top of plate b securing screws 39 (see Figs. 1 and 5). n order to close the frontv of the rectangular passage of the member 37, the side flanges of the latter have a face plate 40 fastened thereto by screws 41, 41 (Figs. 1 and 5).

A rectangular block 42 is vertically reciprocatory in the guide-member 37 and depending from the main body of the part 42 are ribs or wings 43, 44 at right angles to one another and with theiry lower edges somewhat beveled, such parts having urt er downward extensions or ribs 45, 46 thinner than the parts 43, 44 and with their lower edges slightly rounded off or beveled. Block 42 and its depending intersecting ribs or fins are centrally apertured for the accommodation of a cylindrical plug 47 having beveled or inclined surfaces 48 at its lower end (see Fig. 4).

Element 42 and its associated parts are reciprocated by a lever 49 (Fig. 3) fulcrumed at 50 on a bracket 51 mounted on the top of plate 35. One end of such lever is connected by a link 52 to the member 42, the other end of the lever being united by a link 53 to a bar 54 vertically reciprocatory in guides in the frame-work and having a bifurcated end 55 (Fig. 2) equipped with a roller 56 traveling in the Vgroove of acam 57 on a shaft 58 revoluble in suitable bearings on the frame-work and provided near thepback of the machine witha gear 59 in mesh with a pinion 60 on a driveshaft 61 equipped at the front of the appliance with a handwheel 62 and at the rear with a drivepulley, not shown.Y Obviously the rotation of shaftl istransmitted to shaft 58,and the 'cam 57 through the connecting mea-ns specii'iedeifects the vertical reciprocation of the `angularblock42 and its spreader means.

The eXpansible and contractible rectangu- V lar form about which the box-blank is folded to shape comprises the following coperating instrumentalities. The under side. of plate 35 is provided with four radiating pockets orsockets 7 0 (Fig. having suit able bottom walls and sideand'end walls '71, 72, 73. Each of such pockets jslidingly accommodates a bar 74 (Fig.` 10) having a right-angle upstandingflange or rib 75 at one end, and each ofthese four flanges supportsjone of the like number of form-sec tions 7 6 lsecured thereto -by vscrews 7 7. Each of the cavities or pockets is equipped with a cover-'plate 80 (Fig. 9) Xed in position Vby screws81, and each such cover-plate has a depending portion itted'in the correspondingpocket and provided 4outside of the pocket with" two verticallyspaced, inwardly-extended projections having rightangle faces 82and 83 which act as stops or abutments for the flanges 7 5'. Each 'member 80 inside of the pocket has a recess' accommodating a portion of a coil spring 84, one end of which bears against the end wall Vof the recess, the vother end pressing against the corresponding flange tending to force that particularsection Vof the form inwardly diagonally toward the common center of such form sections. It is to befunderstood that the rectangular form contracts by reason of the action of the springs 84 and expands because of the descent of the spreader described above acting to force the sections outwardly diagonally thereby enlarging its cross-sectional dimensions.

Referring more specifically to the peculiar or detailed construction of one of the form sections, as illustrated for example in Fig. 14, it will be observed that this member 7 6 Vhas a lower slightly enlarged rectangular spending shoulders at the neck portion of the element at 93 and 94. Additionally the inner longitudinal edge is cut away or chamfered at 97 for the accommodation of a portion of the plunger 47,v terminating in an inclined or beveled face 98 with which one of the beveled surfaces 48 of the plunger is adaptedV to coperate to spread or expand the form` It will be readily understood that when the spreader block 42 and its form-spreading elements is elevated, as illustrated for example in Figs. 12 and 13, the form will be contracted by reason of the inward pushing action of the several diagonally-acting springs 84. VVhenthe spreader descends, however, the surfaces 48 coactiiig with the beveled faces 98, and the beveled edges of the parts 43 and 44 bearing on the inclined surfaces 91 and 92, and the lower edges of the parts 45 and 46 cooperating with the beveled faces 93 and 94, all act conjointly to spread or expand the rectangular form composed of the four parts ready for the bendingor folding of the pasteboard blank around it after which the spreader ascends, the form contracts, and the completed boi; is removed therefrom.

Referring now to the means for feeding the blanks in succession from a magazine to and bending them around the form, it will be seen that the machinecomprises an upright magazine 100 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) adapted to accommodate a stack or pile of the blanks of suitable shape (E ig. 15) on which a weight may be superposed if desired. These blanks 500 are removed individually or one by one from the bottom of the magazine and fed to the form, and this feeding means comprises one or more brackets 101 supporting spaced, longitudinally recessed guide bars 102, 102 igs. 1 and 2) each Vaccommodating a reciprocatory rack 103 (Figs. 2, 3 and 11) the teeth on the lower edges of which are in mesh with a gear 104 (F ig. 3) on a shart 105 oscillatory in appropriate bearings 106 and 107. Shaft 105 is rocked by a pinion 108 (Fig. 2) thereon in mesh with a suitably-guided inclined rack 109 (slidable in an inclined bearing 110) secured to an arm 111 having a bifurcated end 112 straddling the shaft 58, and provided with an antifriction roller in the usual way coperating'with a cam 113 on shaft 58. By this simple means the companion, horizontal racks 103, 103 are reciproca-ted in proper timed relation to the operation of the other parts of the mechanism.

Two,lparallel pusher-bars 120, 120 (Fig. 6) are fastenedto and reciprocate with the racks 103, 103, such bars having shoulders l121, 121 (F ig. 1) near their rear ends adapted to engage the back edge of the lowerinost pasteboard blank in the magazine and slide `it forwardlyV` toward the form. At their Y front ends these two pushers have other shoulders, 122, 122 (Fig. 6) at a somewhat lower level and designed to feed the blanks during the latter portion of' their travel beneath the form. Adjacent to such pushers ,are two parallel, supporting plates, 128, 128

on which the traveling blank is supported and these are provided with dat leal-springs 12-1, 121 beneath which the blank passes and which act to hold it'down in place on such supporting element 123. Side bars or gages 125, 125 are provided along the edges or the members 128 and extend a considerable distance therebeyond against which the ends of the blanks bear to ellect their proper travel and to prevent their displacement. The two reciprocatory racks 108, 108 have mounted thereon to slide therewith two, bent, supporting bars 126, 1213 ot the torni and style shown in Fig. 6 with downturn-ed ends 127, 1217 adapted to dischaifge the completed boxes :trom the machine, these elements 126 traveling beneath a pair oif stationary guides or supporting plates 128, 128.

rEhe appliance includes additionally two lower and upper, parallel, suitably-supported shafts 180 and 181 (Figs. 2 and 8) ecnneoted together by intermeshing gears 182 and 183, the lower shalt being longer than its companion and provided with a. sprocketwheel 185 rotated by a. chain 186 coperating with a sprocket-wheel 1137 on shalt 58, whereby the two shafts are rotated simultaneously in opposite directions. The lower shaft 180 is equipped with a roller 121/x (Fig. 6) tired thereon and provided with a projecting linger 188, the upper shaft 181 being tted with a mutilated or cut-away roller 131 (Fig. 1)coacting with such lower roller to perform. a part ot the blank 'leeding operation. Shaft 180 is also fitted with two rollers and associated mechanism which applies the adhesive to the proper portions or' the blank, which part ci the mechanism is not necessary here toI describe since any suitable glue applying appliance may be used in this relation.

The operation of the blank-feeding mechanism occurs practically as follows:

The shoulders 121, 121 in traveling forwardlyv remove the lowerinost pasteboard blank from the stack in the magazine pushing it along the supporting ,plates or bars 128, 128 between the side guides 125, 125 and beneath the leaf-springs 124%, 12%-, and, at the proper moment, the larger or uncutaway part of roller 184.- engages the iront portion of the blank, and, by cooperating with the lower roller'v 129, the blank is lied along having the adhesive applied thereto at the proper points the same time. Practically as soon as roller 1i becomes inoperative on the blank because of its cutaway section, the linger 188 on the lower roller 129 pushesk the blank forwardly slightly so that it drops on to the two guides or supports 128 at a lower level. During the advancement of the blank by the turning of the coaeting rollers 184 and 129, the racks 108, 108 are returning to original position and practically as soon as the blank has been delivered by the linger138 on to the niembers 128 the pushers 120 again advance, the supports 126 at the saine time traveling with them and the shoulders 122 carry the blank along the guides 128 and beyond their ends to the form, the blank at this time being' supported solely on the traveling members 126. Such blank while thus supported is ready for bending or folding around the form as will now be explained.

,l rectangular bearing or guide 14:0 (Fig. is secured by bolts or sore vs by means olf its loot or lug 141-1 to the under side ci the table, the bearing being located in an aperture through such table as is :fully illustrated. Such vertical, guiding bearing accommodates a bar 1li-2 rectangular in crosssection to lit the bearing and provided with a lower forked portion 1118 straddling the shalt 58 and equipped with a roller 1&4 traveling in the cam groove of a cam 115 on such shaft, whereby the rotation of the cam reciprocates the element 142 in a manner well understood.

Member 1&2 is provided with a central ylindrical cavity 116 accommodating a shorter slidable plunger 1117 prevented from turning therein by means ot' a cross-pin 1&8 extended therethrough with its ends traveling in one or more slots 1119 in the sides of element 1&2, such plunger being normally forced upwardly by a coil-spring 15G in the lower part of the cavity beneath the plunger, all as is "fully shown in Figs. Ll and 5. its top end a rectangular block 151 is rigidly mounted on such plunger and is adapted to4 press 'the central portion 501 of the pasteboard-blank against the bottom ot the sectional :to-rm.

'llo two of its opposite sides member 14:2 has pressure bars or blocks 160 (F ig. 5) pivoted thereto at 161, such members normally separating slightly by reason of the action oi springs 162 in cavities in the elements 150 and bearing on the sides of the part lll-.2. rllhe ertent which these pressure plates may separate is, of course, limited by their lower portions below the ulcrurn pins engaging the sides of the reciprocatory element 1412. it its opposite ends block 151 has two plates 158, 158 (Fig. l) yieldingly held thereto by screws 151'-, 154L extended through apertures or the plates and mounted in threaded holes et the member 151, springs 155 being interposed between the heads of Vthe screws and the plates.

lus will be readily perceived, when the member 142 ascends, the block 151 yieldingly presses the central part 501 of the around the form, the member 142 continuing its upward movement after therblockV 151 has pressed the blank against the bottom of the form. By reason of the fact that the plates 153 a're carried bythe member 151 and the plate 160 by the element 142 the end fiaps or wings 503 of the blank will be bent up to the form before the side wings or flapsV 502 are folded up and this givesan opportunity, by mechanismv described hereinafter, tofold or bend inwardly the body and neck ears or tabs carried'by the endV wings against the form, so that when the side -wings are bent up they will be outside of and caused toV adhere to the outer faces of such ears. Y Y Y Two levers 170 and 171 (F 1g. 4) are fulcrumed at 172, 172, each carrying a bar 173V adapted to engage the neck portions 504 of the corresponding end wing or flap of the blank and press them against the reduced portion lof the form, thereby forming a shoulder in the blankat the base of the neck all as is clearly depicted in Fig. 4'. The lever 170 is operated bya bell-crank 174 fulcrumed co-axially with the .lever and having anadjustable pressure-screw 177 adapted to bear on the outer face of lever 170, the two members 170 and 174 being normally yieldingly separated by means of a spring 180 accommodated in alined recesses in the two elements and surrounding a screw 178 fastened in the lever 170, projecting through an aperture of the bell-crank 174, and provided with one or more stop nuts 179. l

In similar manner lever 171 is operated by another bell-crank 175 having a like connection therewith, the two bellcranks being operatively connected by a link 176 assuring theirsimultaneous actuation.

Each of the bell-crank levers 174 and 17 5 at its opposite sides carries two leaf springs 181, 181 (Fig. 6) secured thereto by screws 182, 182, each spring at its free end having two spaced prongsV 183 and 183a (Fig. 16) of different thicknesses adapted to I fold against the form the ears or tabs 505 of the Y main portion 503 of the end pasteboard iaps or wings and the ears or tabs 506 of the. crank portion 504 thereof. Itis due to the.

fact that these ears are slightly offset in the completed box and the faces of the form against which they are bent are lsimilarly offset that the prongs referred to are of different thicknesses.

Bell crank 174, and bellcrank 175 through the connecting link 17 6,are operated through a link 184 connected thereto and 'to the upper end of a rod 185 'vertically slidable in a bearing 186 and actuated by'a cam 187"(Fig. 3) on shaft 58.

f Two skeleton or frame levers 190, 190,

(Fig. 5) are rockingly mounted on the table top at 191, 191, each carrying near its upper end a bar 193 adapted to shape the neck porboard blank to the reduced-dimension section of the form, as is clearly illustrated. Each lever is additionally apertured for the reception ofV a slidable plunger 194 having an enlarged head V195 adapted to bear against the outer face of the corresponding pressureplate 160, forcing the latter rmly against the body ,portion of the blank to press it against the side of the enlarged body section of the form. A spring 196 is interposed between'each head 195 and itsv corresponding lever and the plunger is fitted with one or more stop-nuts 197 limiting the travel ofthe plunger in its aperture or bearing in the lever. Y Y Each lever 190 is operated by a link 198 (Fig. 5)V pivoted thereto at 199 and connecte` ing it at 200 to ears202 on a sleeve 203 supported on a shaft 201fmounted in the front and rear standards 32 and 33. TheV two sleeves are rocked by two cams 204 and 205 (Fig. 3) associated with Vrods 206 and 207 having two-branched portions straddling 'shaft 58 and pivotally connected at 208 and 209 (Fig. 5), respectively, with ears or lugs 210 on the sleeves, the rods or bars 206, 207 being equipped with yielding spring connections 211 of any suitable or appropriate type whereby the parts may yield slightly if subjected to undue pressure.

For the discharge or delivery of the finished necked boxes a'chute or guide 212 is mounted on a bracket 213 fastened to the table top. g

Assuming that the fiat blank has been brought under and in register with the form in the manner above described, member 142 rises and Vblock 151 presses the part 501 of the blank against the bottom ofthe expanded form. Elements 153, 153 lfold up the end parts 503, 504, 505 and 506 of the blank to the form. Springs 181, 181 by means of their-two prongs 183 and 183a bend the tabs or ears 505 and 506 around the upright co1'- ners of the form. On the continued upward movement of member 142, plates 160, 160 bend upV the side wings 502-507whereupon such plates are firmly pressed toward the form by the plungers 194 and the four bars or blocks 173 and 193 press the neck .parts 504 and 507 of the blank against the upper reduced section of the form inwardly offsetting such portions of the blank and forming the neck on the box. -Y The overlapped been tion 507 of the sidewall wing of the paste- Y soV ends 127, 127 push'the finished box out the discharge chute 212.

I claim:

l. In a machine for making necked pasteboard boxes, the combination of a shouldered form having a larger portion corresponding to the body of the box and a smaller portion corresponding to the neck of the box, means to bend the pasteboard blanks about the form, and means to press the blank to the reduced portion of the form to pro-vide the neck in the box by oisetting the pasteboard at the shoulder of the form, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for making necked pasteboard boxes, the combination of a contractible and expansible shouldered form having a larger portion corresponding to the body of the box and a smaller portion corresponding to the neck of the box, means to contract and expand said form, means to bend the pasteboard blanks about the form, means to press the blank to the reduced portion of the form to provide the neck of the box by offsetting the pasteboard at the shoulder of the form, and means to remove the iinished box from the form while the latter is contracted, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for making necked pasteboard boxes, the combination of a shouldered form having a larger portion corresponding to the body of. the box and a smaller portion K corresponding to the neck of the box, means to bend the end Wall flaps of a pasteboard blank to the form, means to bend the ears of such flaps against the sides of the form, means to bend the side Wall flaps of the blank against the form and said ears, and means to press the blank to the reduced portion of the form to provide the neck in the box by offsetting the pasteboard at the shoulder of the form, substantially as described.

1. In a machine for making necked pasteboard boxes, the combination of a contractible and expansible shouldered form having a larger portion corresponding to the body o' the box and a smaller portion corresponding to the neck of the box, means to contract and expand said form, means to bend the end wall flaps of a pasteboard blank to the form, means to bend the ears of such flaps against the sides of the form, means to bend the side wall iiaps of the blank against the form and said ears, and means to press the blank to the reduced portion of the form to provide the neck in the box by osetting the pasteboard at the shoulder of the form, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for making necked pasteboard boxes, the combination of a shouldered form having a larger portion corresponding to the body of the box and a smaller portion corresponding to the neck of the box, means to bend the end wall flaps of a pasteboard blank to the form, means to bend the body ears and separate neck ears ot such flaps toward the opposite sides of the form, means to bend the side wall flaps ci the blank to the form, means to press the body portions of said side wall ilaps toward said body ears, separate means to press the neck portions of said side wall flaps against said neck ears, and means to press the neck portions or the end wall flaps to the form, said two latter pressing` means providing the neck portion of the box by offsetting the pasteboard at the shoulder of the form, substantially as described.

6. In a box making machine of the character described, the combination of a sectional form composed ot Afour corner pieces, springs tending to move such sections inwardly toward their common center', a spreader cross shape in cross-section adapted to slide between said form sections and cxpand them in opposition to the action o' said springs, mea-ns to operate said spreader, and means to bend a pasteboard blank about the form, substantially as described.

7. In a box making machine of the character described, the combination or a sectional shouldered orm composed of corner pieces, said iorm having a larger portion corresponding to the body oi the box and a smaller portion corresponding to the neck of the box, springs tending to move such i'orm sections inwardly toward their common center, a spreader cross shape in crosssection adapted to slide between said form sections and expand them in opposition to the action of said springs, means to operate said spreader, means to bend a pasteboard blank about the form, and means to press the blank to the reduced portion o' the form to provide the neck of the box by offsetting the pasteboard at the shoulder of the form, substantially as described.

8. In a box making machine of the character described, the combination oit a sectional shouldered form composed oi tour corner pieces, said form having a larger portion corresponding to the body of the box and a smaller portion corresponding to the neck oit the box, springs tending to move such sections inwardly tor-:ard their common center, a spreader cross shape in cross-section adapted to slide between said form sections and expand them in opposition to the action of said springs, means to slide said spreader, means to bend the end wall flaps of a pasteboard blank to the form, means to bend the ears ci such end wall iiaps toward the sides of the form, means to bend the side wall flaps of the blank against the form and said ears, and means to press the blank to the reduced portion of the form to provide the neck in the box by offsetting the pasteboard at the shoulder of the form, substantially as described.

9. In a box-making machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of horizontal diagonally-arranged pockets, supporting members slidable 1n said pockets toward and from a common center,

a vertically-disposed sectional form composed of corner pieces mounted on said sup:V

porting members, springs tending to move such form sections inwardly toward said common center, a vertical spreader adapted to slide between said form sections, means to reciprocate said spreader to expand the form andpermit its contraction, means to feed pasteboard blanks beneath the suspended form, means to-bend the blanks about'the form, and means to discharge the completed boxes, substantially as described.

' 10. In a box-making` machine of the character described, the combination`V of a plurality of horizontal diagonally-arranged Y pockets, supporting members slidable'in said pockets toward and from a common center, a Verticallyrlisposed sectional shouldered form composed of cornerpieces mounted on said supporting members, springs tending to move said form sections inwardly toward said common center, a vertical spreader cross 

